INT. HARDWARE STORE - EVENING (continued)
BILL
Now.
She pauses in place.
KAY
Her name is Jelly.
Julia breaks into a smile. The door closes behind Kay and
Bill watches as she disappears into the night.
JULIA
Isn’t that a funny name for a dog,
Grandpa?
(Laughing)
Jelly?
Bill ignores her, turning the dead bolt into place on the
door.
INT. TENT - NIGHT
The SOUNDS of crickets and bull frogs fill the air. Kay looks
through an atlas, circling information as the touch light
dims. Jelly lets out a low moan beside her.
KAY
You hungry?
The dog lies prone, no interest in the question. Kay gives
the dog an absent-minded rub and turns the page of her book.
The next long moan brings Kay onto her elbows and she looks
with concern closely at Jelly.
Kay reaches into her bag and pulls out a cookie. She holds
it to Jelly who does not lift her head. She locates a
prescription bottle in the side pocket and studies it for a
long moment, sizes up the dog.
KAY (CONT'D)
(feeling its girth)
What are you clocking in at these
days? You at your fighting weight?
Checking the label again, she bites a pill in half and then
bites the half in half.
Kay presses the quarter pill into the dog’s mouth and clasps
her muzzle shut. Kay pours water into the frisbee next to
the dog but the animal doesn’t drink.
Kay lies down next to Jelly and taps the light off.
KAY (CONT'D)
Let’s get some sleep.
EXT. RURAL LANDSCAPE - MORNING
With their tent nestled in the distance, Jelly waits at the
bank as Kay swims to shore.
JULIA (O.S.)
Jeellly!!
Julia runs toward them from an old white farmhouse at a
crazed pace in her pajama’s and slippers. Kay quickly pulls
on clothes as the girl approaches.
She places her arm protectively around the dog as Julia
stops/slides into the grass near Jelly, out of breath.
KAY
Hey, go easy. The doggie’s not
feeling so good.
Julia watches Jelly for signs of illness before tentatively
reaching out past Kay’s arm for a gentle touch. Kay is
impressed by the child’s tenderness.
KAY (CONT'D)
Yeah, like that. That’s nice.
Kay sits down on the grass next to them and roughly squeezes
the excess water from her hair. She is noticeably cleaner
and shows evidence that she probably used to be beautiful.
She glances at the white farm house in the distance.
KAY (CONT'D)
Does your Grandpa know you’re out
here?
JULIA
Not yet.
Kay takes the girl in fully. She is slight; bed head messy
with soft, puffy eyes.
JULIA (CONT'D)
What’s wrong with her?
KAY
I’m not sure.
Julia stops petting Jelly and puts her attention on Kay.